Overview
From State Road 52 at Ampezzo, an adventurous road climbs the Val Lumiei gorge in the Carnic Alps - the bridge that crosses it is 150 metres high over the torrent - towards the spectacular artificial lake and the municipality of Sauris, which in old local German is called Zahre and which in terms of altitude ranges from 766 to 2474 metres.
Pastures and fir forests on steep slopes, but without dominant rocks, frame the blue of the water mirror and the villages where a medieval German dialect has been preserved. Every year, Der Zahrar Voschankh, the Sauran carnival, is still very lively. It features two special characters: the Rölar, covered in soot and equipped with cowbells, and the Kheirar, armed with a large broom. The ritual ends with the Kheirar sweeping the floors to symbolise the desire to drive away winter and propitiate the arrival of the good season.
Around the lake, the views from Lateis, which can be reached via a steep climb, are remarkable. An alternative route between Ampezzo and Sauris winds its way through coniferous forests from the winding road over the Pura pass, at an altitude of 1425 metres; next to the pass is the Tita Piaz refuge and the Tiziana Weiss nature trail, which climbs to almost 2000 metres.
For any other information in person about the lake and the villages, the tourist office is located in Sauris di Sotto, number 91/A.
Lago di Sàuris, Ente di decentramento regionale di Udine, Italia
